Electric switch



E. a. MASTNEY JLM85 ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 8, 1937 fizveizzon Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH poration of Illinois Application September 8, 1937, Serial No. 162,881

SCIaims.

This invention relates to an electric switch and more particularly to a simple and eil'ective switch for controlling a plurality of electric circuits. The switch herein described is characterized by a longitudinally movable contact. which is fullfioating and which may adapt itself to any irregularities. The switch is further characterized by a simple and eflective index mechanism which is mechanically and electrically separate from the 1 switching portion of the system.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a top view looking down upon the switch. Figure 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is section along line 3-4 of Figure 1. Figure is a section along line 44 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a detail.

The switch comprises an insulating base I of any suitable material such as Bakelite having any desired shape. As shown here, base I is provided 50 with opposing wings I and 3, upon which are mounted stationary contacts 4 to l inclusive. Each contact is preferably formed ofa doubled strip of spring metal, having one'end ll shaped all to provide a soldering lug and an intermediate portion II as a mounting portion. Each contact is rigidly mounted upon base I by means oi an eyelet l2, passing through a suitable aperture in the base I and in the mounting portion ll of the contact. The mounting portion ll extends to form a pair of contact making jaws l3 and i4 oppositely bent with the tips pressed against each other. The corners I! of each contact making jaw are preferably bent away from the opposing jaw so that the opposing laws at the corners are provided with lips providing a ready entry of a movable contact.

As clearly indicated in Figure 2, upper jaw ll of the contact is shaped in a simple curve, while lower jaw i4 is formed'in an 8 curve to clear the insulating base material. The base is suitably apertured at the region below each pair of contact jaws so that lower S-shaped jaw M of each contact clears and may be deflected downwardly. The contacts are so arranged that the opposing Jaws l3 and I4 tend to meet substantially in the plane of the top surface of base-l. As shown in Figure 4, the various pairs of contacts are mounted at an angle to each other but this is only to provide clearance between the soiaiering portions. The contacts may, if desired,

be mounted parallel to each other.

Base is provided with apertures 2| and II on the center line thereof. These apertures are small slots and, as shown in Figure 4, are disat rightangles to each other. Passing through slots 20- and II are the bent ends 22 and 23 of a. spring 24, extending between the two slots. This spring is provided with a bumped portion 25 at an intermediate point thereof.

Cooperating with each pair of contacts are mov- 5 able contacts 21 and 28. These contacts are flat strips of metal long enough to bridge each group of stationary contacts, here shown as two although any number may be used. Each contact 21 and El is provided at the inner edges II ill and II with a pair of upstanding ears Ii to 34 inclusive.

The actuating, member of the switch comprises an insulating block 40 having wings 4i and 42 extending the full length thereof and slidable on 15 base I. A knob or handle 43 extends upwardly therefrom from the center thereof. The bottom of block 4| is provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal channel 4, which extends for the full length of the block. In an intermediate por- 20 tion of channel 46, a bump or irregularity 48 is provided. As is clearly evident in Figures 2 and 3, channel 45 is adapted to enclose spring 24. On each side of channel 45, the material of block 40 extends downwardly to form walls 41 and 48. 25

At spaced points within walls 41 and 48, slots SI and II are provided within the material, these slots being shaped and spaced to' accommodate ears ii to 34 inclusive of the movable contacts. As is clearly evident irom the drawing, each 30 movable contact is provided with a pair of cars, each of which engages the slots in insulating member 40. The assembly is maintained intact by means of metal plate 53, having a slot 54 for the accommodation of knob 43. Plate 53 is provided at opposite sides thereof with fingers 55 to 88 inclusive, which are adapted to embrace the sides of insulating base I and be bent around the bottom. It is understood that slot 54 in the plate is long enough to accommodate knob 48 in the course of its travel and acts to guide block 4| and to determine the end positions. A pair of apertures GI and it may be provided in the plate for mounting the entire switch. 7

As shown in Figure 3, bump it of the spring is 45 adapted to cooperate with protuberance 46 of the insulating member 40 to provide an ind x action. In moving switch handle 43, the mov ble contacts 2i and 28 are forced along from one position to the other and spring 24 is depressed to 50 permit bump 25 to clear the protuberance 46. As soon as the spring bump has passed beyond the protuberance, the spring rises against the side of the protuberance. The movable contacts lie on insulating base i and are merely moved 55 back and forth by insulating block 40. It is clear, therefore, that the movable contacts will adapt themselves to any irregularity and tend to provide a full-floating, movable contact. Any dirt in the switch will be pushed from between the stationary contact jaws and tend to fall out through the apertures in the insulating material.

What is claimed is:

l. A switch comprising an insulating base having a plurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon and having a movable contact slidably disposed thereon and movable in a straight line a r switching purooses, a spring carriedby b and extending parallel to the line oi motion said contact, said spring having a portion. up from the base, on hamlet-- ing block siidabig disposed on said base, clock having a channel therein, in h spring is adapted to ride, means 130: loosely oou cling said movable contact and said block so both move on the base together and means on said block cooperating said spring for defining index positions for said block.

2. An electric switch, comprising an insulatirig base having a plurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon and at least one movable Contact slidably disposed on said base and movable in a straight line thereon for switchihg purposes, an elongatedsprlng carried by said base lengthwise thereof and parallel to the direction of motion of said movable contact, said spring having a bump formed thereon, a movable bloci: slldable on said base and loosely engaging said contact for movement therewith, said block having a longitudinal channel, within which said spring rides, said channel having a protuberance therein at an intermediate portion thereof whereby: said spring and block cooperate to provide an index action,

3. ,An electric switch, comprising an insulating base having a plurality oi stationary oontacts mounted thereon, each contact having a pair of opposed spring jaws movable perpendicular to said base with said base apertured to clear said contacts, at least one movable contact slidably disposed on said base, an elongated spring carried by said base and extending upwardly therefrom along a line parallel to the direction of motion of said movable contact, and an insulating block slidably disposed on said base and having a channel engaging said spring and having means for loosely engaging said movable contact, said spring having an irregularity thereon and aid channel having a corresponding irregularity therein, whereby an index action is obtained during switching movements an, electric switch, comprising an insulatlog base having a plurality of stator contacts mounted thereon, each contact including a pair of spring jaws movable perpendicular to said base, with said base apertured to clear said contacts, at least one movable contact slidably disposed on said base and rectilinearly movable for switching purposes, said base having a pair of apertures therein along the-line parallel to the movement of said movable contact, a wire spring having its ends disposed in said apertures and ezdending along said base with a portion thereof bent to provide a bump, an insulating block slidably disposed on said base having a channel adapted to engage said wire spring with an irregularity in said channel cooperating with said spring bump to provide an indexing action, and means whereby said insulating block loosely engages said movable contact for switching purposes. 7

5. The structure of ciaim cl, wherein one of the spring anchoring apertures in said base is wider than the other to permit said spring some degree of transverse movement.

An electric switch, comprising an insulating having a plurality stationary contacts mounted thereon, each contact havhig pair of opposed spring jaws movable erpendicular to the base with said base apertured to clear said jaws, at least two movable contacts slidable on said base and movabie in a straight line for purposes, seid contact having at least one ear extending upwardly therefrom, an insulating block slidably disposed on said base and movable parallel to said contact, said block adapted to engage the ear of said contact and rnove the same for switching purposes, an elongated spring disposed on said base with the spring extending parallel to the direction of motion' of said movable contact, said insulating block having a channel therein in which said elongated spring rides and means whereby said spring and block cooperate to provide an index action. 1

7. The structure of claim 6, wherein the inden action providing means comprises a bump on said spring and an irregularity in said channel.

8. The structure or claim 6, wherein said movable contact has a pair of cars extending upwardly therefrom and wherein said insulating block is provided with slots to engage said ears wherein the index; action providing means comprises a bump in said spring and an irregularity in said channel.

9. An electric switch comprising an insulating base having a plurality of stator contacts mounted thereon, each contact having a pair oi opposing spring jaws adaptedfto. open perpendicular to said base, with the base apertured to clear said jaws, at least ohe elongated movable contact adapted to cooperate with said stationary contacts movable lengthwise thereof, said movable contact being provided with a pair of cars, an elongated wire spring carried by said base parallel to the line of travel of said mov- @WARD J. MASTNEY. 

